20 December

(UTC+1)

Events on this day in the life of Manfred von Richthofen

Victory 13

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery??p. 42??

20 December 1916
Menchy-au-Bois

“Combat Report: 1130 hrs, above Menchy. Vickers one-seater No. 7929. Motor: Gnôme 30413. Occupant: Arthur Gerald Knight, Lieutenant RFC killed. Valuables enclosed; one machine gun taken. About 1130 I attacked, together with four planes and at 3.000 metres altitude, enemy one-seater squadron above Menchy. After some curve fighting I managed to press adversary down to 1.500 metres, where I attacked him at closest range (plane length). I saw immediately that I had hit enemy; first he went down in curves, then he dashed to the ground. I pursued him until 100 metres above the ground. This plane had been only attacked by me. Weather: fine all day.”

Victory 14

Under the guns of the Red Baron, Norman Franks, Hal Giblin and Nigel McCrery??p. 44??

20 December 1916
between Quéant and Lagnicourt
Quéant

“Combat Report: 1345 hrs, above Moreuil. Vickers two-seater: A5446. Motor: Beardmore No. 791. Occupants: Pilot Lieut. D’Arcy, observer, unknown, had no identification disc. Occupants dead, plane smashed, one machine gun taken, valuables please find enclosed.

About 1345 I attacked, with four planes of our Staffel, at 3.000 metres altitude, enemy squadron above Moreuil. The English squadron had thus far not been attacked by Germans and was flying somewhat apart. I had , therefore, the opportunity to attack the last machine. I was foremost of our own people and other German planes were not te be seen. Already after the first attack, the enemy motor began to smoke; the observer had been wounded. The plane went down in large curves, I followed and fired at closest range. I had also killed, as was ascertained later on, the pilot. Finally the plane crashed on the ground. The plane is lying between Queant and Lagnicourt. Weather: fine all day.”

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